Members of Congress threw a tantrum recently when President George W.
Bush announced that he would severely restrict intelligence briefings
after sensitive information was leaked to the press. The president angrily
scolded the Congress for failing in its responsibility to safeguard secrets.
"There is a responsibility that if you receive a briefing of classified
information, you have a responsibility. And some members did accept that
responsibility, others didn't. I understand there may be some heartburn
on Capitol Hill. But I suggest if they want to relieve that heartburn,
that they take their positions very seriously, and that they take any
information they've been given by our government very seriously,"
the president said from the Rose Garden.

Weldon

Members of Congress reacted in almost juvenile fashion. Senator Ted Stevens,
Alaska Republican, said, "The defense bill is not moving until we
are included." Even after the president agreed to resume the briefings,
Representative Curt Weldon, Pennsylvania Republican and member of the
House Armed Services Committee, was still angry and offended by the president's
actions. "The statement he (Bush) made was off base," Weldon
said. "If he has a problem with a couple of senators, he ought to
come out and name them. You don't broad-brush everybody."

The blow to their egos has left these members of Congress blinded to
the proper method of disclosing classified information, and the president's
responsibility as the controller of that information.

The president is under no constitutional obligation to disclose any information
regarding his conduct of the current war on terrorism. The constitution
specifically names the president as the Commander-in-Chief of the military
forces. Congress declares war, the president executes. Therefore, the
president controls the strategy, methods and resources to conduct the
war. Whether or not Congress has formally declared war is of no consequence.
The president may, if he sees fit, share information with Congress as
a courtesy. He may also withhold information.

One of the basic concepts in information security is that of the "need
to know". A security clearance or position, in and of itself, does
not grant the holder of that clearance or position access to classified
information. The recipient of the information is given the information
only when the need to know is satisfied. The person holding or controlling
the information is tasked with making the determination of need to know.

The fact that the recipient wants to know is irrelevant. No matter how
badly Congressmen and senators want to know the classified information
contained in the intelligence briefings, they are not allowed access to
that information until the controller of the information, in this case
the president, determines that they have the need to know. Members of
Congress can demand, insist, throw tantrums, even try to blackmail the
president; but the determination is made by the president.

The president has resumed the briefings, evidently convinced that he
got Congress's attention. Members of Congress that receive these briefings
need to learn that the security of the United States is far more important
than their fragile egos. They can start by learning the rules for safeguarding
classified information. A call to the Defense Security Service would be
a good place to start.

Members of Congress also need to review the constitution regarding their
responsibilities during the conduct of military actions, especially how
their role compares to the president's.

Additionally, Congressmen and senators should ignore their desires to
respond like juveniles when they don't get what they want. Absolutely
no honor was brought to Congress's reputation by the foolish statements
of Senator Stevens and Representative Weldon. The trust that President
Bush has tried to foster with Congress has been bruised. It is incumbent
on Congress now to restore that trust.

Senators and Congressmen do not get things just because they want them.
Arrogant, immature actions by our elected officials do nothing to help
the president execute his responsibilities. They must accept that the
president acted well within his rights. Members of Congress must also
accept that the president will tell them what he determines they need
to know, not necessarily what they want to know.